Ron Gierkink's Woodbine handicapping notebook for April 19
Friday, April 18 review
Favored Pender Harbour looked beaten along the inside heading into the turn in the feature, but then kicked in strongly on the outside in the stretch to collar Chief Thundercloud and pacemaker Sniper in the final strides. He completed the seven-furlong distance in 1:22.48 in his first appearance in 4 1/2 months.
Thanks in part to a new 40 percent bonus for Ontario-breds in open company, Pender Harbour earned a whopping $71,520 in the allowance for non-winners of $60,000 in the previous eight months. The victory ended a seven-race drought for the popular millionaire, who was Canada’s champion 3-year-old in 2011, when he captured two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown - the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes.
Luis Contreras book-ended the pick four, winning on Pender Harbour in the seventh and on favored Ray of Light in the fourth. The wager exceeded the $50,000 guarantee by $18,295, and returned $133.50. The Polytrack played fair on the eight-race card, which had a mere 50 runners. Nobody won the Jackpot Hi 5 outright, and the carryover heading into Saturday’s finale is $11,716.
HORSES TO WATCH
PEYTON
Trainer: Mike Doyle
Last race: April 18, 7th
Finish: 4th by 1
Beyer: 85
This capable router came charging on the outside from well off moderate fractions to finish fourth behind champion Pender Harbour and two-winter-raced rivals in a seven-furlong money allowance. That was his first outing in four months, and it should set him out nicely for the stretch-out.
VADER
Trainer: Vito Armata
Last race: April 18, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 66
Off an 8-1 morning line, he was pounded down to 4-1 following a four-month layoff in a $25,000 claimer traveling five furlongs. He was bottled up along the rail in a stalking position on the turn, and then continued to run evenly in the stretch in what should be an ideal tightener.
Saturday, April 19 preview
Saturday’s $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes is one of the best editions of this six-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies in years. Zensational Bunny, last year’s Glorious Song Stakes winner, should be prominent throughout in a field with a little less speed than anticipated due to the scratch of Wild N Clever, who was entered back for Sunday. The Wesley Ward-trained Kentucky shipper Ruslana is also quick. She beat a modest field in her last start, which came in a six-furlong restricted stakes on the synthetic surface at the Ocala Training Center Jan. 21.
Zensational Bunny will be ridden by Patrick Husbands, the go-to rider for trainer Mark Casse, who also entered Appreciating and Madly Truly. Eurico Da Silva, who registered his first win of the meet on Friday, was named on the latter two, so one of them may be withdrawn.
The race within a race in the Star Shoot is between archrivals Paladin Bay and Lexie Lou, who were both Sovereign Award finalists for champion 2-year-old filly last year. Lexie Lou wintered in Florida, while Paladin Bay remained north of the border, and Lexie Lou might be more ready than Paladin Bay in this prep for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks in June.
Avie’s Sense is an intriguing favorite in the all-important seventh race, which caps the early pick four and starts the second pick four. She looked to be a budding star when she ran second with a 96 Beyer in the 2012 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at the Fair Grounds, but then went to the sidelines for a long time, and has been idle since being a beaten favorite here in a June 23 allowance.
Avie’s Sense can lead all the way in this seven-furlong allowance, which doesn’t contain much speed. Her trainer, Josie Carroll, sent out Tesseron to score on Friday at Keeneland, where she will saddle Queen’s Plate contender Ami’s Holiday in today’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes.